|
Future
Classes
Player
Rankings
|
Fantasy Linebacker Rankings
|
1.
Keith Bulluck (Tennessee) |
WHY: Quietly, Bulluck led the league in
tackles last year and has continued to make waves
throughout the league. He is a big, mobile linebacker
that is really the only playmaker on this defense.
WHY NOT: With so little proven talent
around him, Bulluck will be the lone focus of offenses
every play.
|
|
|
2004: 152 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 INT, 11 passes
defensed, 1 FF, 1 TD. |
|
2.
Ray Lewis (Baltimore) |
WHY: With the Ravens going back to a
conventional 4-3, or 46, defense Lewis will
be more protected by his defensive linemen
and will be allowed to run free once again.
WHY NOT: He is showing his age in
recent years and after his mediocre (for
him) play last season, there are many
critics.
|
|
|
2004: 146 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 FR. |
|
3.
Donnie Edwards (San Diego) |
WHY: Edwards blew up in the Chargers
3-4 scheme last season and will be even
better this year as the talent around him
grows. He has a massive defensive line
keeping him clean and has the athleticism to
make plays all over the field.
WHY NOT: There are no reasons. Pick
Edwards as one of your first defensive
players.
|
|
|
2004: 150 tackles, 1 sack, 5 INT, 3 FF, 13
passes defensed, 1 TD. |
|
4.
Derrick Brooks (Tampa Bay) |
WHY: Brooks remains one of the true
playmakers on defense in the league. He is
always around the ball and knows how to
close on a ball carrier. He is good for 130
tackles and 5 sacks every year.
WHY NOT: At some point, his age has
to become a factor.
|
|
|
2004: 137 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 4
passes defensed. |
|
5.
London Fletcher (Buffalo) |
WHY: Fletcher is the
leader of one of the league's best
defensive units. He is a hard hitter and
is surrounded with speedy playmakers
that filter the ball to him.
WHY NOT: He is not going
to get many sacks or interceptions, but
he is top 5 in tackles every year.
|
|
|
2004: 142 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR,
3 passes defensed. |
|
6.
Steve Foley (San Diego) |
WHY: Foley had a breakthrough year
in 2004 and is only going to be better in
?05 as the defense grows. He is the primary
pass-rusher in this aggressive scheme and
should see his sack totals continue to rise.
WHY NOT: He is only good for around
70 tackles a year, but he makes up for it
with sacks and interceptions.
|
|
|
2004: 64 tackles, 10 sacks, 2 INT, 5 FF, 2
FR, 12 passes defensed. |
|
7. Joey Porter (Pittsburgh) |
WHY: Now that he is fully
healthy, Porter should be back on track
and ready to terrorize the AFC again. I
would expect 10 sacks and 2-3 INTs.
WHY NOT: Like most outside
linebackers in a 3-4, he isn't going to
get many tackles.
|
|
|
2004:
53 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF, 12 passes
defensed. |
|
8. Zach Thomas (Miami) |
WHY: He is in the middle
of it all in Miami and the defense is
built to get plays back to the inside
for him. He has a chance to lead the
league in tackles.
WHY NOT: He won't wow you
with sacks or interceptions, but his
tackles and forced fumbles are a treat.
|
|
|
2004:
145 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 passes defensed.
|
|
9. Brian Urlacher (Chicago) |
WHY: He is healthy and
has looked great in preseason camps.
Expect a huge year out of this
former fantasy favorite.
WHY NOT: Do we trust
that he is 100% healthy?
|
|
|
2004:
(9 games) 69 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF,
7 passes defensed. |
|
10. James Farrior (Pittsburgh) |
WHY: Farrior probably
could have been the league's
defensive MVP in 2004. He had a
great year and finally got the
attention he has deserved for so
long. He'll go earlier than he
should because of name recognition
though.
WHY NOT: He's not much
on sacks, but you have to take him
if he's there.
|
|
|
2004:
94 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 INT, 8 passes
defensed, 3 FF, 3 FR. |
|
11. Will Witherspoon (Carolina) |
WHY: This might be a head
scratcher to some, but look at his line
from '04 and you'll see a very well
rounded player that will get you key
points in every category.
WHY NOT: He's a sleeper,
make sure you sneak him into your draft.
|
|
|
2004:
103 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 INT, 8 passes
defensed, 1 FF, 1 FR. |
|
12. Takeo Spikes (Buffalo) |
WHY: A fan favorite and a
guy that could be worth a better pick if
he can get his sack numbers back up.
WHY NOT: He will make a
ton of tackles, but not much more.
|
|
|
2004:
107 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 INT, 1 TD. |
|
13. Julian Peterson (San Francisco) |
WHY: He is back from an
Achilles? tear and should thrive in the
3-4 that Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary
have brought to the Bay.
WHY NOT: If you happened
to miss the first line, he did tear his
Achilles tendon.
|
|
|
2004:
(4 games) 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 passes
defensed, 1 FF. |
|
14. Mike Peterson (Jacksonville) |
WHY: A phenomenal
all-around performer that has been
overshadowed. A great defensive line and
a smart coordinator surround him.
WHY NOT: Really no
reasons. He's not a great cover man and
won't get INTs, but you are drafting him
for his tackles and sacks.
|
|
|
2004:
126 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR. |
|
15. Marcus Washington (Washington) |
WHY: He is all about
the tackles and will even contribute
some sacks. With Lavar Arrington
back, I'd expect Washington to
become more of a pass-rusher this
season.
WHY NOT: Again, there
are no real reasons not to, but
understand he is a tackles/sacks guy
only.
|
|
|
2004:
107 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR. |
|
16. Mike Vrabel (New England) |
WHY: His stats are better
than most recognize and he is the lone
returning starter at linebacker for the
defending Champs. He will be expected to
step up his game, and he will.
WHY NOT: For an outside
linebacker, he doesn't make INTs and his
tackles are low.
|
|
|
2004:
71 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed.
|
|
17. Clark Haggans (Pittsburgh) |
WHY: Because he had the
best season no one talked about. Draft
him above some of the other name players
and you'll be happy.
WHY NOT: It is okay to
draft him, but don't reach too high on
his numbers from last year alone. Be
sure to note his tackles.
|
|
|
2004:
37 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR. |
|
18. Jonathan Vilma (New York Jets) |
WHY: This Rookie of the
Year was amazing in the middle for the
Jets. He'll only get better and higher
on this list.
WHY NOT: No reasons. His
sacks won't be great, but that is
because he's a middle linebacker.
|
|
|
2004:
107 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 1 TD. |
|
19. Kailee Wong (Houston) |
WHY: He is alone now as
the stud linebacker for the Texans. Wong
must step up big this year, but his
history has shown he is quite capable.
WHY NOT: A position shift
and the always-tough AFC South are the
obstacles.
|
|
|
2004:
71 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR.
|
|
20. DJ Williams (Denver) |
WHY: Draft him now
because he is on the rise. He will
get over 100 tackles easily and
could become more of a playmaker
with the talent around him.
WHY NOT: Don't look
for big sack or interceptions
numbers.
|
|
|
2004:
114 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT. |
|
21. Lance Briggs (Chicago) |
WHY: Catch this rising
playmaker now. He is going to flourish
in this defense.
WHY NOT: We are still
waiting to see some sacks out of him,
but they will come this year.
|
|
|
2004:
126 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD. |
|
22. Al Wilson (Denver) |
WHY: A top tackler that
occasionally makes a big pick or a sack.
WHY NOT: He is only decent
as a playmaker and he has a horrible
defensive line in front of him.
|
|
|
2004:
104 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INT. |
|
23. Dat Nguyen (Dallas) |
WHY: A tough tackler with
good all-around numbers.
WHY NOT: A move to a 3-4
defense might not be the best thing for
this undersized linebacker.
|
|
|
2004:
107 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INTs, 5 passes
defensed. |
|
24. Keith Brooking (Atlanta) |
WHY: Brooking is a very
good linebacker with good all-around
numbers. He could have a better year
this season with more talent on defense.
WHY NOT: Teams are
starting to run away from him and the
defense will use Demorrio Williams more
as their blitzer.
|
|
|
2004:
101 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 INT, 6 passes
defensed. |
|
25. Brian Simmons (Cincinnati) |
WHY: He is the only
veteran player on this very young, and
very raw defense.
WHY NOT: He has always
been a great tackles guy, but he isn't
much of a playmaker and could be spelled
more this season.
|
|
|
2004:
104 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 TD. |
|
26. Antonio Pierce (New York Giants) |
WHY: He is finally the
unquestioned starter and is hoping
to build on a solid 2004 season. He
should go well over 115 tackles this
season.
WHY NOT: He won't get
many chances at sacks or
interceptions as offenses run away
from him.
|
|
|
2004:
112 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 TD. |
|
27. DeMarcus Ware (Dallas) |
WHY: He will start as the
Cowboys primary pass-rusher in their 3-4
this season and will be blitzing from
all over the field.
WHY NOT: He is a former
defensive end trying to make the
transition to the NFL and a new position
all at once.
|
|
|
2004:
College player |
|
28. Derrick Johnson (Kansas City) |
WHY: If his college career
is any indication, Johnson will quickly
be a top 5 player on this list.
WHY NOT: He has trouble
shedding blockers and might not be much
as a tackler.
|
|
|
2004:
College player |
|
29. Andra Davis (Cleveland) |
WHY: He is an exciting
young playmaker on the inside and is a
very favorable position with the Browns
new head coach Romeo Crennel, a
defensive mastermind.
WHY NOT: He has been low
on tackles and sacks, but could be on
the way up with a new defense in place.
|
|
|
2004:
71 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 3 INT. |
|
30. Ian Gold (Denver) |
WHY: Now that he is back
in Denver, Gold should again become one
of the most feared outside linebackers
in the AFC because of his speed and
ability to pursue the ball. Expect all
of his numbers to jump by 15-2-1.
WHY NOT: There are no
reasons to ignore him, but don't draft
him too early.
|
|
|
2004:
71 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT. |
|
31. Adalius Thomas (Baltimore) |
WHY: Sacks, sacks, sacks.
WHY NOT: If you are
looking for interceptions, he is not
your guy.
|
|
|
2004:
72 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT. |
|
32. Nick Barnett (Green Bay) |
WHY: In Jim Bates
defense he is going to pile up
tackles in the middle.
WHY NOT: The defensive
line is very weak and he will not
see much protection up front if
Grady Jackson continues to hold out.
|
|
|
2004:
123 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT. |
QB - RB -
WR - TE -
DL - LB -
DB - K
|
